Among the qualities that make a prolific scorer in basketball is the ability to capitalize on impromptu opportunities, and that’s just one reason Piscataquis senior Bryce Gilbert is closing in on 1,000 career points. Gilbert displayed that knack when his team needed it most on Dec. 14, turning what looked to be two threatened possessions into baskets that helped the Pirates shade Greenville 55-50 in a battle of Piscataquis County rivals.

In 2012 and 2013, we performed the first chemical reclamations in the Moosehead Lake region since 1984 when Sawyer Pond was reclaimed after white perch were illegally introduced.

The highlight of the tournament came in when senior Brandon Weston reached a personal milestone. On his first match of the tournament Weston pinned his Washington Academy of East Machias opponent to earn his 100th career win.

A dozen runners from the region headed north on Saturday, Dec. 9 to take part in the second annual Millinocket Half-Marathon and Marathon -- the races had no entry fees as participants were instead urged to spend their money in the Katahdin region.

The John Bapst High School girls basketball team unveiled a relentless full-court press under first-year head coach Chris Woodside and it paid huge dividends in their mutual season opener against Class B North runner-up Foxcroft Academy. The Crusaders forced 17 first-half turnovers which helped them build a 33-15 halftime lead and they withstood a second-half rally by the gritty and youthful Ponies to earn a 58-42 victory at the Cross Insurance Center Saturday, Dec. 9.

Foxcroft Academy quarterback-safety Nick Clawson is among 12 semifinalists for the 47th James J. Fitzpatrick Trophy, presented annually to the state’s top high school senior football player-sportsman.

After 32 years and over 340 wins coaching boys teams at Central, Penobscot Valley High School of Howland and Piscataquis Community High School of Guilford, Jamie Russell has taken over for Diane Rollins, who left after 16 seasons and over 200 victories at Central.

Foxcroft Academy senior quarterback/defensive back Nick Clawson led the way as members of the Foxcroft and Dexter Regional High School were among the honorees during the 31st annual Little Ten Conference (LTC) All-Star Banquet on Dec. 3 at Jeff’s Catering in Brewer.

The Foxcroft Academy Key Club, hosted its sixth annual Reindeer Run 5K during the early afternoon of Sunday, Dec. 3. Proceeds from the event benefit community Christmas projects.

Sen. Paul Davis, R-Piscataquis (pictured right) and Rep. Norm Higgins, I-Dover-Foxcroft had the honor of congratulating Foxcroft Academy boys soccer and wrestling head coach Luis Ayala at a school assembly on Nov. 11 where Ayala was formally recognized as the U.S. Cellular Most Valuable Coach.

A quartet of northern Maine sportswriters and broadcasters, including two with ties to the Bangor Daily News who both have contributed to the Piscataquis Observer over the years, have been recognized as finalists for the Maine sportswriter and sportscaster of the year awards given by the National Sports Media Association

Five graduates of Dexter Regional High School and Foxcroft Academy were members of the 2017 Husson University field hockey team, helping the Eagles win the first NCAA tournament game in program history and also setting the school record for victories in a season.

In conjunction with the Dover-Foxcroft Hometown Holidays celebration, the Foxcroft Foxcroft Key Club will present the sixth annual Reindeer Run 5K on Sunday, Dec. 3 at 1 p.m. with registration from noon to 12:45 p.m. Registration forms are available at www.foxcroftacademy.org.

According to a national cellphone company, the most “Most Valuable Coach” in the country resides in Dover-Foxcroft and works with student-athletes at Foxcroft Academy. Following the announcement last week Luis Ayala was formally recognized Monday morning as the U.S. Cellular Most Valuable Coach during an all-school assembly, during which he received a $50,000 check which he has chosen to go to the two sports programs.

For the first few series of the 2017 Class D football championship on the turf at Fitzpatrick Stadium during the late afternoon of Saturday, Nov. 18, North region top seed Foxcroft Academy and South No. 1 Wells High School were evenly matched as both defenses forced the opposing offense into a pair of three-and-outs. The Warrior offense then got going with two touchdowns in the opening quarter and three more in the opening half to help the team win 48-0.

It started with a nomination in June and ended with a win during Thanksgiving week. Word came on Nov. 20 that Foxcroft Academy teacher and coach Luis Ayala was named the 2017 US Cellular Most Valuable Coach (MVC) after a three-plus month online contest.

Both Foxcroft Academy and Bucksport High School had to contend with a kickoff temperature of around 20 and a windchill dropping the conditions into single digits during the 2017 Class D North championship on the evening of Friday, Nov. 10. But the Ponies weathered the situation better, jumping out to a 20-0 first quarter lead and claiming the regional crown with a 34-0 victory.

Three area field hockey stars were named to the Maine Field Hockey Association’s North All-State Team for their performances during the 2017 season: Rebecca Batron and Kaitlyn Webber of Dexter Regional High School and Makenzie Beaudry of Foxcroft Academy